Volvo adds T3 three-cylinder petrol engine to XC40 range

New engine brings list price down to £27,610, while T4 petrol and D3 diesel are also available to order

Volvo has extended the XC40 line-up with an all-new three-cylinder petrol engine, alongside two new four-cylinder petrol and diesel units.

The new entry-level T3 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo unit – Volvo’s first triple. It makes 154bhp and 195lb ft of torque, translating to a 0-62mph time of 9.4sec. The T3 is theoretically capable of 45.6mpg combined fuel economy and emits 144g/km of CO2.

It’s matched initially to a six-speed manual gearbox, with an eight-speed automatic option set to be added later this year. The T3’s towing capacity is restricted to 1.6 tonnes. The new range addition now means prices start at £27,610 for a Momentum-spec model.

Alongside the new T3, Volvo has further extended the Jaguar E-Pace rival’s line-up with a pair of its existing 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. The T4 petrol makes 187bhp, put through all four wheels as standard via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 0-62mph takes 8.5sec.

The D3 diesel, the second 2.0-litre unit added, makes 147bhp and 236lb ft of torque, with 0-62mph quoted at between 9.6sec and 10.1sec, depending on spec. Manual and automatic gearboxes will be offered, as will the choice of front of four-wheel drive. It’s capable of up to 58mpg combined.